LogInThe DLC-sized mod has been upgraded to Skyrim Special Edition's engine and got an approximate release window.
I'm sure that many of you have already heard the joke that nowadays, Bethesda's The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim is no longer a game but rather a game engine, enabling game developers to create their own experiences using Skyrim's tools. Thanks to the dedication of indie developers and modders, this joke is becoming more real with each passing moment, as they craft entirely new games within the Skyrim framework that are nothing short of mind-blowing.
One such case was recently showcased by Team Apotheosis, a group of modders who, for the past seven years, have been working on Apotheosis, a dark fantasy DLC-sized open-world expansion for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. A few days ago, the team shared an official teaser trailer for the mod, providing a glimpse at its visual style, showing its gorgeous environments, and sharing some info on the mod's story.
Image Credit: Team Apotheosis
As stated by the team, the game takes place over set across the 17 Planes of Oblivion, belonging to the series' 17 known Daedric Princes (apparently including Jyggalag, unjustly forgotten by Bethesda in the fifth game) and Dreamsleeve, an obscure piece of TES lore, imagined by the team as "an echo of a fallen world."
With the newly-revealed trailer, the team has demonstrated some of those realms, which look heavily inspired by FromSoftware games, and shared a brief look at the mod's gameplay, characters, and more. Additionally, the devs revealed that Apotheosis' main quest would revolve around finding the pieces of the Heart of the World, referring to the Heart of Lorkhan, destroyed during the events of The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind.
Image Credit: Team Apotheosis
"Reawaken, Dragonborn, Ysmir, Dragon of the North; ride forth and reclaim the shattered heart of the world, in a tale of loss, our sense of self, free will, and the ultimate price of power," reads the mod's description. "You start in the Dreamsleeve, in a twisted fallen world, stranded at the far end of time. Heed the call of Kyne, Goddess of Storms and Widow of Shor. Take up arms and overcome the very grips of death. Or is it your fate to become a memory, faded and scattered to the winds of time?"
Image Credit: Team Apotheosis
Image Credit: Team Apotheosis
Features:
- Explore a Fallen World: Unearth the remnants of a crumbling world - its story, people - cities, villages, and ruins as you roam freely. Delve into any of the 17 Daedric realms of Oblivion in search of the Heart of the World, with their numerous unique biomes, 3D assets, creatures, stories to unfold, and lives to influence.
- Master Your Fate: Forge your own path in a compelling, dark, story-rich campaign and side quests inspired by classic RPG design, with a focus on choice and true player freedom; quests with emotional depth, evolving characters, and personal stories.
- Gather Your Party: Go alone, or seek out friends and allies— companions with deep backstories, thoughts, and desires. Enhance your relationship with them through your actions and decisions as you advance alongside them on their journey.
- Overcome Powerful Entities: Take on numerous bosses with challenging yet rewarding gameplay — meticulously designed bosses featuring bespoke custom art, moves, abilities, phases, arenas, backstories, music, and more. Be wary of your use of violence against the Daedra, as the world will respond in kind. The more Daedric Princes you defeat, the more unstable the world becomes. Exercise this option sparingly.
- Rally Your Strength: Acquire a myriad of unique legendary artifacts, weapons and armor, spells, summons, and more. Seek out the power of Monoliths that bestow great abilities but at the cost of a terrible curse. Harness new powers as you absorb the essence of your fallen enemies. Forge them in a brand new endgame skill tree to evolve your character's strengths along new and unique paths. Ascend to divinity.
- Sanctuary: Nestled at the center of the Dreamsleeve is the Cathedral of the Final Hour – your home during your adventures. Grow the Cathedral's flock and unlock new services as you rescue those lost beyond the walls. Discover rumors, stories, jobs, and potential party members. Showcase loot in your chambers and seek unique keys for unlocking powerful legendary equipment.
Image Credit: Team Apotheosis
Image Credit: Team Apotheosis
Image Credit: Team Apotheosis
Additionally, the team has revealed that Apotheosis has recently been upgraded to Skyrim Special Edition's engine and shared an approximate release window for the mod. According to the devs, they aim to release the mod sometime in 2025 via ModDB and Nexus.
You can learn more about Apotheosis by visiting the team's official website. Also, don't forget to join our 80 Level Talent platform and our Telegram channel, follow us on Threads, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn, where we share breakdowns, the latest news, awesome artworks, and more.